HZJ73 fender flares - stay or go?

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2rivers

2rivers

Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Threads
46
Messages
316
Location
BC, CANADA
Hi - I guess this is a bit of a "group vote" as I really cant make up my mind...truck is a 1992 HZJ73 with a stock fender flares, riveted on in at least 8 places EACH to the body panels. I really dont like the idea of them as rust magnets but then again I dont like the idea of drilling out the rivets, welding the holes shut and a whole bunch of body work thereafter. It isnt going to be a princess but I do hate rust.

The truck needs a new Left front fender (its crunched) - and I have tried but cannot source a replacement from Toyota here for whatever reason. Does ENS have the exclusive dealership for 7 series related parts (like for mine trucks?) - regardless I dont think it will come with the flare hangers riveted on to mtach the others.....soooo

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

We have tons of salt, sand snow and this would be a winter/bush beater - I have no worries about paint imperfections but protection from the elements is a must.

I want to run 16" rim and something like a 33 x 9.5 or 7.50 x 16 tire to keep inside the fender wells...

Looking forward to hearing your savvy advice! Keep the flares or get rid of them?
 
Im starting to hate my flares,they are so 80s like my wardrobe:D
 
go buy a can of rock guard, tape off a nice line on the fenders that looks clean, apply liberaly, reinstall the flares.

then dump used engine oil into the seams

you asked...
 
I have just finished using Honey goo on the whole underside of my 78. You can buy it from Nappa in a spray can. I used to be a fan of Fluid film but Honey Goo is way better. It is wax in a can. It took five cans to do my truck at a cost of 50 bucks. I sprayed down my winch a year ago and it still has a great coating of wax.
Like others have said take off your fenderflares spray it up and reinstall. If you ever want to run wide tires on your truck you will be happy you kept the flares
 
If you plan on doing any wheeling I would get rid of them. Flares wouldn't last 1 trip on my rig. Not to mention the fact that they don't look very good, but then again looks are the last thing I worry about on my cruiser.
 
Thanks guys...:beer:

HZ - you nailed it. Likewise I took off a set on our 61 a year back or more and they were totally packed with crap. HZ can I ask what you did then if you did not put them on? Did you grind off / drill out the rivets etc with lots of bodywork?
 
I broke one of the flares on my KZJ70 the first time I took it off road so i took the rest off and as others have said I was shocked by the amount of crap in there. I drove without them for a while but I found that the spray from the rear wheels on rainy hightways was dangerous for other drivers and off road the front wheels tend to spray mud up the windscreen.

So Ive replaced mine with some universal fit flexy flares like this, I just sprayed the arches with a rust proventative (we call it waxoyl over here, its probably the same as honey goo?) riveted them on with stainless rivets using the existing holes and re-applied the wayxyl up inside the flares.

They are about .5" wider than the OEM flares which is good for me as Im running wider tyres with spacers and they bounce off trees nicely. :D

HTH
Dave

:EDIT: Oh and while we are talking about mud traps check your fuel lines coming from your filler. Under one of the rear aches on the 70 series is a plastic cover at the back covering the fuel filler hose and return/breather lines. Get it off, clean the crap out and give it a good coat of rust preventative before its too late. I got enough out of mine to fill a bucket! :eek:
 
Hulsty said:
When I removed mine I just drilled out all the rivets and they came off no problems
Click to expand...

Roger that - but what'd you fill the holes with afterwards?
 
Hey thanks so much Big Dave Grr. :) I had forgotten to to spray the fuel filler neck. I replace them all the time at work. Must be getting old!!!
My 78 didn't come with stock fender flares so I made them ont of 5 inch garden edging.Worked out well very flexible and keeps the rocks of my truck and others. In B.C Canada where I live the police love to give out vehicle inspections for wrong lights, tires sticking out past fenders ect..
Thanks once again.
IMG_0876.webp
 
I'm liking that look

Sweet pic there Pradocruiser!! Great idea on the garden edging - did you glue it or rivet/screw? Ditto to Big Dave on the tip re: filler neck.
Thanks to all you guys...they are coming off.
 
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